Letter of the Day: Abuse case offers reason to volunteer

Posted: June 30, 2012 - 12:48am

The trial of Jerry Sandusky dominated the news. Because he was considered an upstanding citizen, no one could imagine he might be taking advantage of vulnerable boys entrusted to his care. And because of his standing, the children were afraid to cry out because they feared they would not be believed.

Unlike the Sandusky case, there is little outcry about the thousands of children abused every year in Texas — one every eight minutes, according to figures from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Every 38 hours in 2011, a child died from abuse and neglect in Texas. In the South Plains, more than 1,200 children were victims of abuse and neglect last year.

If the Sandusky case makes you angry, turn that anger into good for children in our community. Consider becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate — a CASA volunteer.

CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to speak for the best interest of children, who through no fault of their own, end up in foster care. Last year, there were 46,063 children in Texas’ custody and more than half did not have a CASA to speak up for them in court and in the child welfare system. These children went through the process of being removed from their homes and losing everything they knew. CASAs work to move children through the system and into safe permanent homes as quickly as possible.

Volunteer training begins July 10 in Lubbock. Call (806) 763-2272 or www.casaofthesouthplains.org and make a difference.